Why live in Bateau Bay NSW

Bateau Bay NSW is a suburb on the beautiful Central Coast. In this article I discuss real estate in Bateau Bay. I also cover Bateau Bay Beach, Bateau Bay Shopping options and things to do in Bateau Bay NSW and the 2261 community

Table of Contents

• Where is Bateau Bay NSW
• What makes Bateau Bay NSW such a great place to live or visit
• Things to do in Bateau Bay NSW
• Real Estate in Bateau Bay NSW

Unless you are a Coastie most people that I meet have never heard of Bateau Bay, let alone know how to pronounce it. Let’s face it, it is an odd name. Unless you’re French that is. Bateau is French for boat. Back in the 1970’s the suburb was apparently known as Boat Harbour.

Set approximately 15kilometres, or a ten-minute drive, north of Terrigal, Bateau Bay is a beautiful beachside suburb. At just under seven square kilometres, we have around 5000 properties here and just over 12,000 people call Bateau Bay home. This beautiful east side suburb borders the Wyrrabalong National Park.

That’s the statistical ‘stuff’ out of the way, now let us look at what makes Bateau Bay a great place to live, or even visit.

Bateau Bay Beach and Picnic area is family friendly and the ideal place for kids both young and old. Set approximately one kilometre south of Blue Lagoon Beach and Resort.

Situated in the Wyrrabalong National Park you could spend a full day here. Pack your lunch, have a swim, snorkel or even do some fishing, and then take a walk along the Coast Walking Track.

The Bateau Beach Picnic Area is a great way to spend a full day or even 15 minutes.  If you’ve arrived without food no problem, there are several food choices and great coffee just 450-500 metres away at Cafe Mocha. If fish and chips or a burger is more your thing then there is also a takeaway food shop.

This village shopping centre also has a chemist perfect for grabbing the forgotten sunscreen. There is also a convenience store, boutique shopping and a post office.

If you’re coming for a weekend visit or looking to buy some Bateau Bay real estate check out some Central Coast Accommodation options here.

Blue Lagoon Resort is just 1km from Bateau Bay beach and is the ideal place to stay to get a feel for the Bateau Bay lifestyle. Enjoy a few nights here and you will experience how great life could be for you here in the 2261 area.

There are also several guest houses and Airbnb’s available in our area catering to various styles, tastes and budgets.

Bateau Bay has three local shopping complexes as well as the major shopping centre of Bateau Bay Square formerly known as  Bay Village Shopping Centre.

As well as major retail and grocery stores,  including Kmart, Aldi, Coles and Woolworths, Priceline, there are several café’s and eateries, one of two Post Offices in Bateau Bay, ANZ bank, Westpac and Commonwealth Banks, a local library, medical centre and a service station.

I won’t list every business, but you’ll pretty much find everything that you want here.

There are other three other options for shops in Bateau Bay. They are:

Cresthaven Shopping Village – located on Cresthaven Ave Bateau Bay NSW

The largest of the other three shopping options, Cresthaven offers a well-stocked IGA, Cresthaven Fruit Market, Cresthaven Meats, Cresthaven Deli, BWS Liquor and a Pharmacy.

There is an abundance of parking and this is the ideal place to shop when you don’t want to face a large or busy shopping centre. (I go there a lot).

East Bateau Bay shops located on Bateau Bay Road is home to another Bateau Bay Post Office, (the other being in Bateau Bay Square) a pharmacy, general store, take-away, a real estate office and several other shops popular with the locals including Blackbird. Here is where you will find Café Mocha which has great ambience, tasty food and good coffee. These shops are just a few minutes level walk to Bateau Bay beach.

Finally, the shops located on the corner of The Central Coast Highway and Bateau Bay Road Bateau Bay.

Did someone say Pizza. These shops house the extremely popular Bruce’s Pizza.  If you have never experienced a Pizza from Bruce’s, you should!  There’s also a pharmacy, a bottle shop and Wilkies. Ladies you really should pay a visit. The service is amazing, and the clothing and jewellery options are a plenty.

(Unfortunately, due to Covid19 Wilkie has closed her physical doors but she is still trading online). Melissa, Wilkie to her friends, and her Mum Naomi ran a wonderful business and I would encourage you to have a browse online).

Crackneck Lookout, Bateau Bay Beach, Bateau Bay Square and Bateau Bay Ten Pin Bowling are all places worth a visit. Perhaps lawn bowls is more your pace, that is catered for too and you can enjoy lunch and a cold one afterwards at Bateau Bay Bowling Club.

Another activity popular with the young and the young at heart is the Bato Yard Skate Park situated at 460 The Entrance Road opposite Bateau Bay Square and Carls Jr Bateau Bay. Here you will also find PCYC Bateau Bay. There is plenty of parking too.

If your kids are skaters, they will love it at Bato Yard.

When you move to a new area you want to be sure that you can continue your favourite activities and hobbies. We really are spoilt for choice again here with the Bateau Bay driving range. The Shelly Beach Golf Course is popular with Bateau Bay golfers.

If you prefer something indoors yet still want to be competitive then call into the Bateau Bay bowling centre on The Central Coast Highway next door to the driving range.

It is a big decision isn’t it, trying to decide where to live. Not only is it a huge financial commitment but you need to be sure that you, and your family, will enjoy the new location.

First up let me say that Bateau Bay is extremely convenient to everything that the coast has to offer. When I first moved to Bateau Bay the one thing that was a pleasant surprise was how central it was to everything. Being midway between Erina and Tuggerah it is a very convenient suburb with easy access to the M1.

Offering a relaxed, casual lifestyle it is the ideal place to either retire or raise a family.

With ample shopping, schools and recreational facilities, there is also an abundance of beaches, waterways and parks in and around this community friendly suburb.

I am not sure how it came about but most locals refer to ‘east’ or ‘west’ Bateau Bay.  For the non-locals reading this Bateau Bay east side refers to the area from The Entrance Road through to the beach therefore anything east of The Entrance Road.  Bateau Bay west side is the area west of The Entrance Road – The Entrance Road was renamed a several years back to The Central Coast Highway though most locals still call it The Entrance Road.

If you are looking to buy, or sell, in Bateau Bay be aware that there is a price variance between the east and the west. Whether this is justified or not is a topic for another post and will often depend on who you ask. Regardless, properties on the eastern side will usually sell for significantly more than on the western side.

Please note:  The ‘western’ side is NOT a bad area. Often, I meet potential buyers or people new to the area that have pre-conceived ideas about one side or the other.

There are thousands of well maintained, high value homes with lovely house-proud owners on the western side. This is not something exclusive to the east side. Yes, the east side of Bateau Bay NSW 2261 is closer to the beach; the western side offers more for your money by way of house prices. This is due to the eastern side land component being higher due to the proximity to the beach.

Another factor that has been pointed out to me many times over the years is that a lot of the homes on the east side are high maintenance due to lots of trees, lack of guttering in some parts, and overhead power lines. Contrast this with parts of the western side that have underground power, curb and guttering on both sides of the street and less gum trees. It all comes down to personal preference, but they are things to consider when you are looking to buy your next home.

Often people from the east side will say that they are closer to the beach, so their side is better. People on the western side usually fall into one of two categories a) they feel that east side properties are over-priced or b) they eventually want to move there themselves.

There are pros and cons for each side and at the end of the day it is all the one suburb. It just comes down to personal preference, and sometimes, budget.

Whichever side of the debate, or Highway, you are on – Bateau Bay NSW is a beautiful place to live and work.  If you’re not familiar with the area and are looking to relocate please get in touch and I’ll do my best to help you.